Jewish Heritage Europe

Portugal: Holocaust Museum in Porto has opened, the first on the Iberian peninsula

(JHE) — The first museum on the Iberian Peninsula specifically dedicated to the Shoah has opened in the city of Porto (Oporto), in northern Portugal. Created by the local Jewish community, some of whose members lost family in the Shoah, … continue reading →

UK: Restoration of Falmouth’s historic Ponsharden Jewish and Congregationalist cemetery complex moves forward with major heritage grants

(JHE) — Restoration of the historic Ponsharden Jewish and Congregationalist Cemeteries complex in Falmouth, Cornwall is under way thanks to a new grant of £45,000 from Historic England, on top of nearly £300,000 in funding last year from the National … continue reading →

Turkey: concern raised over the state of the neglected, centuries-old former synagogue the town of Çermik, near Diyarbakır in southeastern Turkey

(JHE) — The endangered state of a centuries-old synagogue in Diyarbakır province in southeastern Turkey has been raised in the Turkish Parliament. Semra Güzel, an MP of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) from Diyarbakır,  raised the issue last month, calling … continue reading →

Belarus: Vitebsk authorities want to sell — or give away — the synagogue where Marc Chagall prayed. Investors will get tax breaks and other incentives to restore it or conserve the ruins

(JHE) — Authorities in Vitebsk, the hometown of the artist Marc Chagall, want to sell the roofless ruins of the city’s Great Lubavitch beis midrash (synagogue) for a nominal price — or give it away free — to whoever will … continue reading →